H.P. 2009

Every year we have a Halloween party at my place. Its usually a pretty big event with games, prizes, food, contests, and a haunted house. This year it was a little different.

Actually, I'm quite disappointed in it this year. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing my family and friends and I love seeing all the costumes. There just wasn't much excitement this year.

It got cold and dark way too soon. The haunted trail we had made got blown down the day before in all the wind and rain and there wasn't time to fix it back. People were sick, which is always a worry. (Hope ya'll get to feeling better soon!)

On the plus side, we had good food (as usual), some fun games, there was music and karaoke, the Costume Contest went well, and the pinata was a hit (no pun intended). I got to see a purdy butterfly (before her Grandpa stole her away for the night), hang out with some cowboys and Indians, and even discovered some long lost Star Trek brother and sisters.

It was a good party, just could have been better. But I guess that's what next year is for. :-)

Transplanted Gypsy

I want to move to Louisiana.

I've always wanted to live somewhere besides Jackson County, even if only for a short time. I just could never decide where to go. Over the course of three years though I've managed to fall a little bit in love with the state of Louisiana.

The first year I just passed through...spending one night in Madisonville, one day in New Orleans, and another night in Lafayette. The second year I stayed in Slidell and spend a day or so in New Orleans. This year I managed a room right in the French Quarter about a block from party central (aka Bourbon Street).

New Orleans fascinates me. I love the architecture, the people are friendly, the food is AMAZING, the music is incredible...the list goes on and on. It would be a great place for a single gal or guy to live and have fun, but not a place I would want to raise my children. Nothing wrong with New Orleans in that aspect of things really, just that I'm a country girl born and raised on her family's farm and I'd kinda like to raise my children the same way.

This year we stopped in Verachie, Louisiana on our way home. It was a detour but well worth the time and effort. We toured the Oak Alley Plantation. Its beautiful. Everyone should go see it at least once. I really do suggest it. During our time there it actually stopped raining and the sun came out (so did the heat but oh well, beggars can't be choosers). I've always wanted to work at a museum or as a tour guide for a place like Oak Alley, hence the whole B.A. in History. It just never worked out that way. But I fell in love with Oak Alley (and in lust with a certain waiter, but that's a different story *ahem*) and now I want to go back. Soon. I'd like to see it all decked out for Christmas. I may go back later this year. You just never know with me. I'm a bit of a gypsy at times.

Anyway, other than Maine or Alaska (two places I've yet to go), Louisiana is a state that calls to me a great deal. Texas is pretty much tied with Louisiana at this point. So I figure that one day, I'll end up living in one of those two places. Probably not anytime in the near future...but one day.

Pre-Trip

So I'm headin' out to New Orleans (or Nawlins, as the locals call it) in the morning. I want to post blogs and photos on here of the trip, but after about ten-ish tomorrow morning, I won't have access to my computer for a few days (I know, I know...how will I ever make it???). So until we meet again, here is my pre-trip blog, with all the stuff I have done and still need to do before I ever make it to Louisiana.

Today I:
1. Stopped at Wal-Mart on my way home from work at 1 a.m. The store was deserted, but the aisles were not. Every dang aisle seemed to be closed so they could mop the floors. Maybe not EVERY aisle, but it certainly seemed like it was every aisle that I wanted to go down was blocked off. I had to get last minute supplies for the road trip (you know, necessities like Twizzlers and Sun Chips) as well as enough food to feed our army of dogs, cats, and chickens for the week. I had to pick up a few things for gifts for family and friends and their little bundles of joys as well. I didn't get home until 3:30 in the morning, thanks mostly to a) the sales-lady at Wal-Mart that chatted with me for fifteen minutes about her puppy and b) the fact that I live a hundred million miles away from civilization (or at least, a Wal-Mart). I didn't get in bed until five a.m. however, because my Mom decided it would be nice to chat for an hour and a half over what to expect on the trip.

2. I got up at 11 this morning and started in on all the trip stuff...but not before doing my regular, daily chores. I fed dogs, cats, chickens, and a brother. I hung out towels, only to run out ten minutes later in the pouring rain to get them and throw them in the dryer. I sorted through a few hundred photos I had recently gotten developed (and no, I'm not joking, there were that many), so that my various family members could have their copies of the most sought after ones. I packed. I hunted down things to pack. I showered. Then I headed to Richmond to work. Somehow I managed to have the time to stop at the bank on the way and withdraw some money for the trip.

Before I Leave, I:

1. Have to make a list of things to do and what to feed for Dad and Dillon. They aren't capable of figuring out such simple tasks on their own, so I have to leave them lists. To be fair, Dillon is only 13. I don't know what Dad's excuse is.

2. Have to feed/water the cats and chickens enough to last a couple of days. No reason putting too much on Dillon or Dad while I'm away. I mean, they have to feed the cats and chickens once a year usually, I sure would hate for them to have to do it too much more often than that.

3. Have to leave money for Dad and Dillon to get some pizza while we're gone. I don't have to do this, but I know the boys, and if I don't, they may starve (or resort to cooking...either one could be bad) while their women folk are on the road.

4. Have to shave. Yuck. I hate that part the most.

5. Have to finish packing. I'm only bringing one small duffle bag and then my makeup bag, but it takes two days to pack all this up. I'll never understand it. Not in a million years.

6. Finish my homework. (Yeah right!)

7. Find Ruby. (Ruby being my GPS.)

8. Sleep...somewhere in there I've got to find time to sleep.

Girls Night Out!!!

Tonight was a Girl's Night.

I picked up my younger cousin, Samantha (she's just a wee one at the tender age of 18) and we headed North to Richmond, KY. Making a quick pit stop in Berea so I could get some cash (it is payday Friday after all).

I had promised Sam that when the new Olive Garden opened in Richmond that I would take her there to eat. I've never ate at Olive Garden and she loves it (most everyone I know loves it in fact), so we have been keeping track all summer long as to when the doors would open. Next weekend is my much anticipated trip to New Orleans, so we decided to get a little Italian food this week. It was a twenty minute wait, but it all worked out perfectly because we also were expecting Sam's good friend, Maggie to stop by and join us. The wait gave her plenty of time to get there. The food was amazing. I took Kayla's advice and ordered the Ravioli di Portobello. It was delicious!!! I think I'll order it every time from here on out.

(Maggie & Sam)

After the Olive Garden we said goodbye to Maggie and headed to Lucky Lady's for a tattoo. I tried my hardest to corrupt Sam and get her to get one as well, but she wasn't very interested. I'm sure after watching them ink me (what with the blood droplets and all), she was even LESS interested.

This time I got a peacock on my left shoulder. I have a flower on my wrist (in honor of my Mother and she also designed it and got one similar to mine put on her chest) and a feminist symbol on the back of my neck. So my peacock was tattoo numero tres. A peacock wasn't exactly what I wanted. I wanted a phoenix. You know the fictional, fiery bird that rises from the ashes after its been burnt up? Well, I wanted that...and I wanted its tail to sort of circle its body and have "what goes around comes around" written within the circle. It didn't work out that way. Instead I got a peacock that is actually the combination of two different peacock designs. Its okay though. I love it all the same. It turned out really well. Its very pretty. Or at least I think so. And I like peafowl. I've always wanted a pet peacock but I have nowhere to put one, so I guess this is my way of getting one.

(My peacock tattoo.)

Anyway, after an hour in the tattoo shop, we headed over to the cinema to fill our bellies with ginormous cups of soda and a huge tub of popcorn (with some m&ms and Reese's pieces for desert) and watch "Whip It". I loved, loved, loved that movie. Even Sam liked it and I was a little worried that she wouldn't. I want to be a roller derby chick. I have since I was about 12. So this movie was awesome because of that alone, but it also had a great storyline and strong female characters. I liked it. Two thumbs up. And the soundtrack is just as awesome as the film.

Anyway, the night had to end eventually, so we got back in good ole JC around 11:30 or so and after some chatting in the driveway and petting some of Sam's cats, we ended the night with a hug and a promise to do it all again soon.

Tomorrow is reserved as a family day to watch "Zombieland" and try to get myself a car. Wish me luck. :-)